Africa needs an 'ever-green' revolution - IFAD president

30 Aug 2010

ACCRA/ROME: The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) will be held in Africa for the first time in Accra, Ghana from 2-4 September 2010. It will be co-chaired by former UN secretary general, Kofi A. Annan, and hosted by H. E. John Atta Mills, President of Ghana.

"Agricultural revolutions that are sustainable and inclusive are enabled by policy revolutions, in which governments play a leading role", said Kanayo F. Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Window of opportunity

Prior to leaving for Ghana to attend the AGRF, hosted by the Alliance for the African Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Nwanze said, "The commitment and the momentum are building and our concerted efforts have never been so crucial to success. This is our window of opportunity to get it right, for Africa and for the world."

Nwanze added that the transformation of African food markets requires concerted, sustained efforts by all. "We will need more partners in government who support inclusiveness of opportunity for all their fellow countrymen and women."

The AGRF, an ongoing initiative, is building a public-private consensus to grapple with agricultural deficiencies in Africa, bringing together key stakeholders to help drive investment into key projects to address food security.

High-profile delegates

The forum hosts high-profile African heads of state, ministers, farmers, private agribusiness firms, financial institutions, NGOs, civil society and scientists. The event stems from three successful African Green Revolution Conferences in Oslo, Norway.

Prior to the forum, Nwanze will travel to the eastern region of the country for first hand discussions with rural people who are participants in the IFAD supported Rural Enterprises Project and the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme.

During the AGRF, Nwanze will outline what it takes for another agricultural revolution including access to markets, land, infrastructure and new, but affordable new technologies for rural communities.

"We will need more partners among farmers' organisations who empower farmers and producers to gain access to the marketplace. We will work with them to build their understanding of how value chains function so that their members can become profitable links in the chain," he said.